MAKE A JAZZ NOISE HERE

Jazz Noise is a fascinating and unforgettable experience. The sound quality is excellent, even better than any studio album. Most of Zappa's repertoire has received plenty of modifications so that all of the songs would match in style. Even a Zappa know-it-all (who hasn't heard Jazz Noise yet) would find so much new stuff that the material could't be embraced in just one listen.

The concert starts off with 'Stinkfoot' wich is more of an introduction to the whole thing less than a song itself. Here Zappa gets acquainted with the audience givining comment to the Jimmy Swaggart prostitude scandal. 'Yuppies' is a very dark and mysterious piece from the more serious and dissonant part of Zappa's work. This one still seems to refer to the matter of Mr. Swaggart. 'Fire and Chains' is an agressive and crazy short number - Zappa still can't get enough of Swaggart. Next up is probably the most memorable part of disc 1. The medly covering everything from 'Let's Make the Water Turn Black' all the way to 'Lumpy Gravy' should even wake up the most bored Zappa-hater and put a satisfied grin on his face. Though 'Eat That Question' is a lot shorter than the one on 'The Grand Wazoo', it delivers the power the studio version was lacking - I'd give it an A+. 'Black Napkins' is very similar to the original version exept that most of the soloing is performed by the brass band. 'Big Swifty' is my favourite from the whole album. It starts very upbeat and energetic and flows in to a cool and quiet trombone solo section. Then the band wakes up the audience again with heroic and funny excerpts from classical pieces. In 'Big Swifty' Zappa also insinuates the meaning of a 'jazz noise'. 'King Kong' is like a reggae version of 'Yuppies'. 'Star Wars Won't Work' is a number where the brasses finally give chance for a Zappa's guitar solo. End of disc 1.

There's quite a difference between the material on the two discs. The second disc doesn't present the listener with happy cartoony themes or dissonant experiments. Most of the tracks are more like in the same key as 'Big Swifty' from disc 1. One of the highlights on disc 2 is 'City of Tiny Lights'. Very upbeat and alive with fine singing and funny sound effects. Next couple of tracks are two excerpts from classical works, both slightly zappafied. 'Sinister Footwear' continues the style of disc 2 thus making it nothing extraordinary. 'Stevie's Spanking' is the only straight-on-pedal-to-the-metal rock song on the album. And 'Alien Orifice' is yet another typical disc 2 piece. 'Cruisin' for Burgers' is a bit similar to 'Tiny Lights'. It has a bluesy rhythm with funny instrumental comments in between and again excellent singing. 'Advance Romance' is one of the coolest tracks on the album also featuring some bluesy elements. 'Strictly Genteel' is the last number and it is a mix of all moods presented throghout the whole album. The track is your typical 'good bye & good night' ending with a touch Frank Zappa weirdness.

This album is highly recommended even if you're not into Zappa that much. Normally I would rate a live album max 4 stars because usually they don't present you with anything that hasn't already been. Zappa on the other hand has tottaly transformed his old material into it's ultimate form. There are few live albums that can top the quality of this one.